Pointe-less

Hi everyone I've not logged in for a while so I thought I'd give you a quick update, the family had a good long conversation and have decided that the best solution given the financial restraints is for DD to drop some ballet and go back to her little local school to go back to doing modern, tap, acro etc and just keep one 2.5 hour non syllabus ballet class per week and one associates class, she probably isn't going to re audition for vocational schools this year! They appreciated all the advice offered and said it really helped them with the decision. DD is also doing GCSE dance at school and takes part in the after school dance, drama and choir clubs so hopefully the combination of all the different activities will help boost her confidence

One problem I think is that the younger children see older children who do these tricks and have been doing them for years and when you warn the little ones that there could be long term damage being done they say "well so and so has been doing them since she was 6 and she's okay" also some teachers who say "I've been doing acro my entire life and it's never done any damage to me or any of the children I've taught over the last 20 odd years!" You try to install safe training into your child but your the only one, and then the child feels held back as others are "better" than them, get placed at festivals as they can do all the tricks, get picked for the best parts etc, I think we have a very long way to go in changing people's attitudes, especially those of old school local teachers in festival type schools!

Thank you everyone you have all been really helpful and I have printed out and passed on the whole conversation, and I would like to point out that this story is being told via a third party and maybe I'm not expressing the families feelings and thoughts, just repeating what mum has said, so there is more to it than what you read here, I've just tried to give a rough overview, but mum was happy with what I've put so think it's a pretty fair summery of the situation. Thank you again, and Annaliesley your last post puts things into perspective. I think my friend just feels a little lost and just looking for others opinions, to which you all have responded perfectly. Thank you again, and I trying to convince her to join for herself as it would be much easier to ask questions etc but she is a bit of a technophobe lol xx

I believe that she already does an after school club in dance plus her school does dance as a lesson too so she has had a weekly class from year 7 but I've no idea what style they do or what standard it's at I'm afraid? My take on it is the DD is split between ballet and all rounder, she really wanted to be a ballerina and concentrated on that for a long time and gave it her all, but I think the realisation that it more than likely isn't going to happen has made her think that maybe she should go back and do all the other dance as it will open more/different doors in the future, BUT I think she feels that it will be perceived as her giving up or dropping out when the going gets tough. Her mother certainly doesn't see it that way and I know she told her that it's just a change in direction and that if she had doubts then maybe ballet isn't where she should be putting all her time and effort. Very difficult situation as I'm sure if they had the money then the DD would choose to do the ballet and just add other classes on top!

I don't know about this year but I know in previous years she hasn't had any feedback and has kept hope that something will come up later on with movement on the lists but it never has so she knows that her dd can't be top of the list so to speak as other have been offered places from reserve but never her DD. What lovely news for one dancer to receive then if your DD is turning down a place on a scheme, they'll be a happpy little dancer out there soon then

Balletqueen and Lema I'm sure she will be glad to hear that others have had similar feelings/worries. Lema your daughter sounds like she has a lot of potential too from what I've read on the Hammond thread so I'm sure it's a very difficult choice for you too! Good luck for the future to both your dd's xx

That's a good idea Taxi, I'm sure she could take a break from her non syllabus class for a few weeks, surely that wouldn't cause her a problem with falling behind like missing exam classes would!

. Thank you Aileen and yes I think the main issue is one of finances, and know how best to distribute her time and money, is she chasing after something that is unrealistic. I felt heartbroken when we were discussing this earlier as her mum said to me that they provide MDS so that ballet is accessible to everyone, even low earners and yet it isn't really is it as you have to be exceptional to gain one and how are you ever going to get that good without being able to afford lots of lessons in the first place! Unless you just a true natural born star and talent of course lol It's a horrible position to be in when your child has such beautiful dreams and money gets in the way. By no means am I saying that if her mum was rich that she'd fulfill those dreams, but let's face it if her mum could afford the fees she would have been living her dream from year 7

I know that it sounds terribly negative, but in her defence she told me that she's trying to be realistic as she doesn't want to pin all their hopes on something and then it not happen. She knows that her daughter isn't a natural performer and really struggles to express herself, she can't afford to do more classes and feels that 5.5 hours isn't enough, they can't afford private lessons and summer schools etc So is her daughter in the best position to secure a place in the future? If she hasn't been good enough to secure an MDS funded place in years 7,8 when they are looking for potential as much as anything else and she can't increase her hours to keep up with her peers and she struggles with the performance aspect too then what hope does she have in securing a place in later years. Obviously without a crystal ball none of us could possibly predict how she will grow and shape as a dancer but I think her mum just wants to give her the best possible start with the money she has.

Thanks Taxi, and yes I agree that he has been successful but I think in their eyes because she isn't actually going off to school it has been an unsuccessful year. I think it has disheartened them a little and left them unsure of what to do as if they cut some ballet it's going to mean she falls behind her peers and that's not going to leave her in a good position going forward to auditions in later years. I think a lot of the problem is finding the best balance of finances and how best to use them, I think you may have a point and as others have also said, she should speak to her associate teachers and see what they recommend. I think they just don't want to burn any bridges but also feel they need to make a change to her training, and all on a budget too.

Yes pupsmum she started out at a small local school doing troupes in various genres but hasn't dance any other style since she was 11 I think. As for taking on other classes I don't think it's possible without dropping something else as they are stretched to their limit financially.

The mum hasn't really spoke to her associate teacher, I think she feels that the teacher doesn't truly "get" her dd, as stated in the OP the daughter is rather stiff and not very good at expressing herself or flowing and I think the associate teacher thinks she lacks passion for ballet (although nothing has ever been said its just the DD's impression) Her body hasn't really changed and she still has the "perfect" ballet body, beautiful legs and feet etc She used to do a little bit of tap, modern and acro but gave it all up to concentrate on her ballet so I think she is torn between going back to being an all rounder or staying just ballet. I think They are scared of putting a nail in the coffin for her ballet career is she does cut her hours now and go back to other genres as 2.5 hours per week is not really enough to keep up the standard required.

. I don't think that she has got SA but will have to check with mum on that one as I could be mistaken :/

Sorry to revive an old thread but I have another question regarding the child from the OP (I have permission from her mother to post, infact she asked me to) So the dancer is 14 now and has had another unsuccessful year at auditions, or should I say in her eyes it was unsuccessful, she was offered places at 2 schools, 1 with no funding and the other with a funding audition which resulted in not gaining an MDS. She was offered a place at the same two schools last year and both with no funding. She is a RBS MA and an associate at another scheme also, she does roughly 5.5 ballet per week, syllabus and non syllabus plus the 4 hours monthly with her associates. Well the mother and daughter feel they have reached a cross roads and are looking for a bit of advice on which way people would advise her to go, she either carries on with the ballet (she only doesn ballet, no other styles at all) at the same hours as financially they can't afford to take on more classes or she continues with the associates plus 2.5 hours of ballet per week and replaces the other hours with other styles such as jazz, tap, contemporary, acro, lyrical etc Mother feels that if her dd hasn't secured a place by now then she never will as she can't increase her hours, she can't increase her time en pointe and she feels that the dd will fall behind and not have enough experience to secure funding in the future, and by doing only ballet she is putting all her eggs in one basket. Whereas if she gives up 3 hours of ballet and just does 1hr syllabus, 1hr non syllabus and 30min pointe plus her associates then with the other 3 hours she can take other classes and be more of an all rounder thus increasing her options for the future. I think I have included everything here but will show post to the mom and add anything missing if necessary. The basic gist of the post is if you feel that a child isn't going to succeed as a purely classical dancer do you think it's worth while just sticking with ballet (which is where her heart lies) or is it better to quit while your ahead and try to broaden your horizons by returning to a full and varied schedule of styles? I hope this makes sense, any opinions appreciated

I was alway told by dd's teacher that lyrical was a step down from ballet, more soft and floaty and contemporary was more modern based, no sure what that means really but may mean more to you than me xx

Wow what a journey you have all been on this year!! So huge congratulations to all those that managed to secure a place with funding and commiserations to the no for now's, I hope you continue to dance and succeed in the future xx

Does anyone know if MIDAS are running anything over the Easter holidays? I did have a quick look on their site but it had nothing listed under their courses section but wasn't sure if the website is just not kept up to date or whether they actually have nothing coming up? Anyway I'm sure I remember one of their teachers being a member on here so thought I'd ask. As a side note, it would be nice to have the option of a day long course instead of always being 3,4 or 5 days as not everyone can afford residential courses on every holiday!! So a day long course or workshop would be a great cheaper alternative for those on a budget but wanting to break up the holidays!!

Congratulations to the two yeses so far!! And to those one the reserve list, just think your wonderful dc are such talented dancers that they secured a place at one of the top vocational schools in the uk, not only that but they were that good that they were even considered for government funding and right now, this very instance their name is sat on a waiting list in the office of this amazing school just waiting for a place to hopefully open up....and their name is there ready and waiting!! Amazing achievement!! Well done all x

Great post and some interesting reads, I've found it extremely helpful thank you

Myself and my dd are extremely slim and unfortunately I have to say that this kind of thing is quite common, I'm not sure if it's jealousy or what but I know that all my life I have had nasty and sarcastic comments made and now my daughter is getting it too! We both eat very well and I know that it's just our genetic make up that makes us so slim as it runs in the family. I would defiantly make the school aware of the situation and maybe they could give a talk on different body shapes, and as long as the little girl is eating a good varied diet I wouldn't worry at all!! Best of luck with the situation

My friends dd auditioned for Tring last year and didn't get asked to attend the physio and wasn't offered MDS, they auditioned again today for year 8 and once again wasn't asked for physio so they are taking it as a no, although I don't think they should judge it on that?? Not sure if the physio is related to an offer or not but we know of a few at Tring and most were asked to attend the physio at their funding audition. Friends dd was in the 9am audition and I'm sure I read on here someone else for year 8 was in the 9am audition so they must be mixed ages. Also last year the letters were back quite quickly if I remember rightly. Best of luck everyone.

Hi amos73 spoke to my friend earlier to see if she had received her letter as I'd noticed others were receiving letters over the weekend and she hasn't had anything, and today's post has been delivered so looks like she has to wait until at least tomorrow now! Wonder if they have a system at all ie all year 7's, then year 8's or all yeses then all no's?? Who knows I suppose!!

I love the transformation into mesh and thought it was a brilliant concept, yet I thought the choreography lacked...well lacked enough actual dancing for me?! What she does is beautiful but there wasn't enough of it if that makes sense.

Danceintherain my friends dd was at Elmhurst last Tuesday and she still hasn't had a reply so I think you may have a few more days wait yet. Although I have seen on here that others from Tuesday have had replies so not sure where hers is?? best of luck for RBS tomorrow for anyone auditioning in birmingham

Well done to all this years yeses and best wishes for auditions still to come!!